Prime Minister Julia Gillard to urge China to convince North Korea to stand down from nuclear threats

PRIME Minister Julia Gillard has urged China to increase pressure on North Korea to stand down from its "provocative and belligerent" nuclear threats.

Arriving in China for a five-day visit, Ms Gillard declared Australia was in ''solidarity" with close allie South Korea and blasted North Korea for human rights abuses against its own people.

Ms Gillard, who will be known by the Chinese name of Zhuliya Jilade during her visit, will raise North Korea directly with China's new President Xi Jinping.

They will have formal talks on Sunday at the Bo'ao business forum on China's southern resort island of Hainan.

With Australia now a member of the United Nations Security Council, Ms Gillard will also use a speech at the forum to tell world leaders, diplomats and business chiefs they all have a deep interest in stability and stopping the aggression of North Korea's leader Kim Jing-un who declared his country had ratified plans for a nuclear strike on the United States.

"I will be urging the Chinese leadership to use its influence to help with this issue with North Korea and most particularly to help see an end to these provocative statements," Ms Gillard said.

Ms Gillard praised the restraint and calm shown by the United States and South Korea.

But, having visited the heavily militarised DMZ between North and South Korea in April 2011, Ms Gillard warned "there is always the risk of miscalculation when tensions are inflamed which is why it is very important that we all do everything we can to get North Korea to step back from these provocative and belligerent statements".

"This is a regime that can not feed and properly care for its people, that engages in some of the worst human rights abuses that we see around the world."

Before leaving Australia, Ms Gillard declared "solidarity" with close ally South Korea in a telephone call with its recently elected first female President Park Geun-hye.

Ms Gillard is leading the most high-powered delegation to China ever sent by Australia, which also includes Foreign Affairs Minister Bob Carr, Trade Minister Craig Emerson and Financial Services Minister Bill Shorten.

Ms Gillard said she would raise human rights concerns, particularly about Tibet, in her formal meetings with Mr Xi and Premier Li Keqiang.

She also indicated she would raise the cases of five Australian business people jailed in China.

Australia Tibet Council chief executive Paul Bourke urged the PM to raise a security crackdown in Tibet and allow the return of the exiled Dalai Lama.

"This is where leaders like yourself can play a constructive role by sending the right message to the new leadership as they establish their positions on China’s core issues, including Tibet," Mr Bourke said in a letter to Ms Gillard.

The PM will use the Bo'ao Forum and the trip to promote greater trade with China, which is already Australia's top trading partner and buys one-third of total Australian exports.

She will also seek to promote Australia's expertise in education services and clean energy and boosting military links, including "potentially over time" holding joint exercises and working together on disaster relief.

"China, of course, is absolutely pivitol to Australia's political, strategic and economic interests," Ms Gillard said on arrival at Sanya airport.

Deputy Liberal leader Julie Bishop is also attending the Bo'ao Forum and said she would also raise the issue of North Korea in her meetings.

Ms Bishop hit out at the Gillard Government saying negotiations for a free trade agreement with China which commenced in 2005 under the Howard Government were still not finished after eight years.

She said New Zealand did the deal in three years and Australian exporters were being hurt by the delay.

"Little progress appears to have been made under the Gillard Government," Ms Bishop said Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry chief Peter Anderson called on Ms Gillard to reassure Asian leaders about Australia's skilled migration program, saying the recent debate about 457 visas and foreigners being put at the back of the queue had played badly in Asia.